How Accurate is the Apex Season Table

[mchammer]

I have an Apex controller that I use on my 120 gallon tank. I've been using the sunrise/sunset function for my lights. I would like to utilize the RT+ function for temperature control but after looking at the seasonal table the temp goes down to 75 degrees during the winter months. That seems just a tad cold for a reef tank. I keep mostly SPS corals so I was wondering what other people keep their tanks at.

 

[tdb320reef]

I have an Apex controller that I use on my 120 gallon tank. I've been using the sunrise/sunset function for my lights. I would like to utilize the RT+ function for temperature control but after looking at the seasonal table the temp goes down to 75 degrees during the winter months. That seems just a tad cold for a reef tank. I keep mostly SPS corals so I was wondering what other people keep their tanks at.

I shoot for 78 the table IMO is low and makes more sense for FO.

 

[Dukester]

you can still use the table but add 2 degrees to the temps to get them up to more standard numbers but still get the natural fluxuation, i had this setup but never went through with it and opted for the 78 degree constant temp all year. I also used the table to have my lights follow the seasonal table but again with an offset so it was only running 12 hrs give or take but still following the sunrise and sunset times each day. iirc the table fluxuates about 45 minutes a year or so.

 

[nonstopfishies]

It is accurate to one location, Sipadan Island, if I remember correctly. A place know more for it's crazy amount of fish and predators more so than it's corals. Not that it doesn't have nice coral as well. 75 may seem low to many, but the most diverse reefs on the planet(Raja, Komodo, Lembah, and north of there in the "coral triangle") routinely stay in the low to mid 70s. In my experiences, the healthiest reefs in Indo are in the lower range of temps with the higher temperature areas having more die off. I have not been around the Phillipines, so I can't speak to waters there.

 

[mchammer]

Thanks for the advice. I thought 75 degrees was low but I like the seasonal change in temp and sunrise sunset. Right now I have my actinics set for sunrise and sunset and my MH set for 3 hours after sunrise and 2 hours before sunset. This way my MH are not running too long. I made my temp seasonal and heater cuts out .5 degrees above seasonal. I'll see how it works out. Can you import other seasonal tables for the Apex controller?

 

[sbreefer]

i have always wondered about the real value of using the table at all. what is your goal?

 

[brad_G]

75 isn't really low. My tank gets 72 on a regular basis in the winter....even saw 68 once or twice. 72 doesn't bother me the least but 68 I didn't like! Nothing showed the slightest sign of stress even at 68 but I would rather not go there again!

 

[mchammer]

My goal is to replicate a natural reef. That's way I use the sunrise/sunset mode with the Apex controller and the same with RT+ for temp. It just seemed a little cold for a reef. It does increase month over month and tops out around 80 in the month of August.